So what’s the latest on the wild, wide world of high technology? I’m ever so glad you asked. Here we go, kids…

* The stereotype is that the science and math types who make up most of the student body at Kettering University would be introverts who have a hard time networking. But in this USA Today story, Kettering students have figured out a way to encourage interaction over something that unites college students — food. Every week about 34 science, math and engineering students armed with marinades, steaks, seafood and even pancake batter gather on campus around a customized grill that an engineering student built and designed. The grilling attracts students of all types, as you’d expect.

* Interesting article in The Ticker (a really fine local news site for the Traverse City area, by the way) on new work spaces in downtown Traverse City intended for ‘co-working’ remote employees, solo entrepreneurs and free agents, many in IT and the creative industries. Saaaaay… you don’t suppose I could do the Tech Report from there, do you? Traverse City here I come — back — at long last? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm….

* Scientists say that under climate change, there will be less snow — but when it comes, there will be more ‘knockout punches’ of the type the Eastern seaboard just experienced.

*Really interesting study of preserved ancient oral bacteria shows there was a price to pay for first agriculture and later industrialization — worse oral and tooth disease. See, we’re supposed to be hunter-gatherers…

* Big news in the search for dark matter may be coming in about two weeks, the leader of a space-based particle physics experiment said at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

* The increasing power and accessibility of genetic technology may one day give parents the option of modifying their unborn children. Should we want to? Should we allow it?

* And here, behold, the next generation of massively multiplayer shoot-’em-ups set in a post-apocalyptic world. (I never criticize people who play such games. After all, I never tire of reading post-apocalyptic science fiction provided it’s done well.)